re: Very close to signing a contract on a new pool. What are the must/not haves to consider

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I personally prefer travertine, it stays cool as well.

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Negative on travertine as a deck surround. We have Kool Deck coating around our and it work great. Here in Hell Arizona from now til fall day time temps never go below 100*, and never get the old hot foot. Have 2 friends with travertine and during the summer there's burns.

Only problem wit Kool Deck is the surface it goes on. We have 2 spots where it loosens every 2 years because of a bad batch of concrete where minerals come to the surface.

Gunnite’s more expensive, but worth it in the long run.

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Taking care of the pool zaps ALL of the enjoyment out of it.

So just budget in a couple hundred dollars a month for life for the pool guy,

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This is high school level chemistry, doable by guys that got out of the Marine Corps in the 90s. Learn it, and don't rely on pool guys or the closest pool store. Buy your chlorine and most chems at Sam's.

I didn't want a hot tub, but everyone that might have bought the home would have, so we got a hot tub.

Watch the drainage on the decking. What the primary contractor had in mind may not translate to the guys pouring the concrete or installing the decking.

But number one with a bullet, it's not just *your* job to take care of the pool. To women and children, taking care of the pool often means cleaning up all the shite they leave behind after a pool day. Don't let it become that, or you will hate it. If you need a spot in the pool scrubbed, one of your kids needs to take a stab at it as long as they're in there, etc.

And, if your pool builder shows up in a $12,000 car, or a $110k truck, find someone else.

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you saying you cant heat your pool in central ar kansas?

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I'm saying it's not worth the money here. It gets much cooler. A heater might extend pool season by a month. Maybe. In S LA it would extend several months.

snakeproof fence

You just verbalized exactly what I don't want...something that needs a little love everyday.

I dont love having a pool enough to do something with it everyday!

Some people are ok with it...I cant stand it. I have enough issues to deal with everyday. Remembering to put acid or conditioner in the pool because we may swim in it this week is VERY far down my list of things I want to worry about.

It isnt about not having the ability to figure it out...it is about not wanting to figure it out. Pay someone $200/mo and dont worry about it.

I was just expressing that the costs of a pool do not stop at that contract he is about to sign. He was asking about must haves...in my opinion, a repair slush fund and a pool guy are must haves.

I'd suggest a small size unless you have a large family. Under 20,000 gallons, to me is easier to maintain.

Be sure to sign a contract with a pool maintenance company so your wife can enjoy the pool boy.

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I know this is very vague but curious what the OT ballers who can afford inground pools consider to be the best or worst options for a pool.

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There are a bunch of great options. Just keep in mind, a pool is going to entail expenses. The more gizmo's, the higher the upkeep/repair costs will be. Our pool at the beach, as simple as they come. Maintenance costs very low. Our two others ... bells, whistles, and repair costs to go with them.

E.g., In Clt, we had an inground cleaning system that was cool in concept, terrible in reality, never worked right and was a PITA. A friend had a waterfall effect coming from a garden area. It was beautiful. But it dragged every flower pedal, leaf, etc into the pool. Hot tubs come with their own issues ... leaking/leaching, heater issues, etc.

IMO must haves are a nice hot tub. Water features beyond a hot tub spillover (e.g. fountains) are also nice. They look good, sound good, and really are not much more in construction expense. Led lights are a must. If you go with led spots, locate them facing away from your house so you see the colors without seeing the source (spot). Pebble finishes are much better pool surfaces IMO. In our Atl pool, I've done away with our polaris cleaner (and all its white tubing), and replaced it with a robot. Works great. Even climbs the walls to clean the waterline.